About

 
 

  1.     Philip began riding at an early age and as a teenager he turned his focus to competitive dressage.  In the year 2000, after graduating from high school, Philip moved to Europe to train with Dutch Dressage Team member Johan Rockx and his wife Penny, winner of numerous Grand Prix titles for Canada.  For nearly a year and a half, Philip worked with Penny and Johan to improve his skills as a dressage rider.  On an average day Philip rode up to eight horses, ranging from young horses being started under saddle to Grand Prix champions.  During his time in Europe, in addition to daily training, Philip had the opportunity to compete in the PAVO Cup, a prestigious competition for young horses in the Netherlands.

 

  1.     In 2001, Philip returned to Canada and began to pursue a career as a professional dressage trainer and coach.  Since this time, Philip’s accomplishments and involvements have included:

  2. •training and competing various horses throughout the levels of dressage

  3. •coaching students to numerous competitive Championships and other achievements on the bronze, silver and gold show circuits

  4. •promoting dressage at a local level as president of the board of directors of Conestoga CADORA

  5. •coaching the University of Guelph Equestrian Club Dressage Team to numerous top finishes including individual placings of 3rd and 5th at the 2006 National Intercollegiate Dressage Championships in North Carolina

  6. •working regularly with Canadian Grand Prix rider and Olympic Bronze Medalist Cindy Ishoy

  7. •being selected to participate in the annual Young Dressage Horse Trainers Symposium (YDHTS) since it first started in 2005.  The YDHTS is an educational dressage symposium initiated by Scott hassler and held annually with the goal of providing an opportunity for select trainers throughout North America to learn from such dressage masters as Dr. Ulf Moller, Michael Klimke, and Ingo Pape

  8. •2009 Ontario National Training Level Champion riding Queensbush

  9. •numerous placings at Prix St. Georges with Atse and Watson

Philip and Omarilla compete at the PAVO cup

Philip and University of Guelph Dressage Team members Megan, Meredith and Elise at a show at Lake Erie College in Ohio 

Student Megan and Dee Hurlburt’s Friesian stallion Atse at the Silver Championships 2008

    Throughout his life, Philip has strived to provide compassionate and fair training and coaching of superior quality to all of the horses and riders that he works with.  So far, he has been rewarded with great joy and many equine “friends” despite some heartaches along the way.  Eventually, Philip hopes to be able to represent Canada in international dressage competition.